Specialty Steel Market Data For September 2009 Reported By SSINA

Washington, DC - The Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA) has released statistical data on imports, U.S. consumption, and import penetration for September 2009. The data represents U.S. consumption, imports, and import penetration for year-to-date (YTD) September 2009 compared to the same 2008 nine-month period. The following data is presented by specialty steel product line, total stainless steel, and total specialty steel:

• Stainless steel sheet/strip: Imports in YTD September 2009 were 151,227 tons, a 58.8% decrease compared to YTD September 2008; U.S. consumption was 694,780 tons, a 32.8% decrease; nine-month import penetration was 21.8%, a 13.8 percentage point decrease from 2008.

• Stainless steel plate: Imports in YTD September 2009 were 29,934 tons, a 60.6% decrease compared to YTD September 2008; U.S. consumption was 130,993 tons, a 30.9% decrease; nine-month import penetration was 22.9%, a 17.2 percentage point decrease from 2008.

• Stainless steel bar: Imports in YTD September 2009 were 55,826 tons, a 41.3% decrease compared to YTD September 2008; U.S. consumption was 110,977 tons, a 39.4% decrease; nine-month import penetration was 50.3%, a 1.6 percentage point decrease from 2008.

• Stainless steel rod: Imports in YTD September 2009 were 9,455 tons, a 60.0% decrease compared to YTD September 2008; U.S. consumption was 25,382 tons, a 48.2% decrease; nine-month import penetration was 37.2%, a 11.1 percentage point decrease from 2008.

• Stainless steel wire: Imports in YTD September 2009 were 22,290 tons, a 33.4% decrease compared to YTD September 2008; U.S. consumption was 29,677 tons, a 44.9% decrease; nine-month import penetration was 75.1%, a 12.9 percentage point increase from 2008.

Imports of total stainless steel (comprising the foregoing product lines) in YTD September 2009 were 268,732 tons, a 54.9% decrease compared to YTD September 2008; U.S. consumption was 991,809 tons, a 34.3% decrease; nine-month import penetration was 27.1%, a 12.4 percentage point decrease from 2008.

• Alloy tool steel: Imports in YTD September 2009 were 26,850 tons, a 64.7% decrease compared to YTD September 2008; U.S. consumption and import penetration were not calculable.

• Electrical steel: Imports in YTD September 2009 were 53,547 tons, a 39.6% decrease compared to YTD September 2008; U.S. consumption was 158,243 tons, a 40.4% decrease from YTD September 2008; nine-month import penetration was 33.8%, a 0.4 percentage point increase from 2008.

Imports of total specialty steel (comprising stainless steel, alloy tool steel and electrical steel) in YTD September 2009 were 349,129 tons, a 54.1% decrease compared to YTD September 2008; U.S. consumption was 1,166,775 tons, a 36.5% decrease; nine-month import penetration was 29.9%, a 11.5 percentage point decrease from 2008.

About Specialty Steel Industry of North America

Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA) is a Washington, DC-based trade association representing virtually all continental specialty metals producers, which include high technology, high value stainless and other specialty alloy products. For more information, go to www.ssina.com.